New Connexions Free Church and Alan Hargrave, Canon Missioner, at Ely Cathedral.

Canon Hargrave said the matter was discussed at a meeting of the churches last week.

He said: “As ministers of churches in Ely we were shocked and disappointed to read of the homophobic leaflets being distributed around Ely, which appear to come from the church.

“The leaflet does not, in fact, originate from any of our churches. Whilst the issue of homosexuality is one on which Christians are not all agreed, we wish to express the fact that people of homosexual orientation are welcome in all of our churches.”

A Cambridgeshire police spokesman said: “We are not treating this matter as a crime but as a potential hate incident.

“We are liaising with local and national partners about the leaflets and enquiries are ongoing.”

Councillor James Palmer, leader of East Cambridgeshire District Council, has thrown his hat in the ring to become the new Mayor of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, with hopes to “improve infrastructure and provide high quality housing for all”.